Community | Kilbourn Public Library - Wisconsin Dells, Lake Delton

Our Community: Unique and Thriving

Wisconsin Dells is a tourist destination, with a storied history. Our area welcomes over 1.5 million visitors a year. We invite you to discover more about the Wisconsin Dells/Lake Delton area!

Our Community: The Early Years

Wisconsin Dells was founded as Kilbourn City in 1857 by Byron Kilbourn. 1857 was the same year that famous photographer H.H. Bennett moved to Kilbourn City, and his passion for capturing the breath-taking beauty of the Dells with his camera quickly turned Kilbourn City into a popular tourist destination. H.H. Bennett took photographs of the Dells of the Wisconsin River and the surrounding region between 1865 and 1908. Bennett capitalized on his success, building the H.H. Bennett Studio in 1875 to sell his postcards and souvenir portraits to travelers. In 1931, Kilbourn City changed the name of the city to Wisconsin Dells, to make it more easier for tourists to identify with the natural formations that made it famous.

Lake Delton

Along with Wisconsin Dells, the Village of Lake Delton is a major resort area. It is home to many popular tourist attractions, including Lake Delton.

Lake Delton was a man-made freshwater lake, originally formed in 1927 to attract tourists to the area following the economic recovery after the Great Depression. Today Lake Delton is empty after torrential rains caused the lake to wash out on the morning of June 9, 2008. Recovery efforts are underway to restore the lake by early 2009. Area businesses on Lake Delton remain open to tourists and visitors.

Lake Delton was originally named Norris for Edward Norris, the surveyor of the village. The village was incorporated in 1954.